davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-18

vided by the South Fork of the American
river, a large stream which flows from the
SUBMITS of the Sierras westward to the
valley of the Sacramento. The north di-
vide is somewhat different from the south,
which has been more particularly described
in the first portion of this article. 1t is
bounded by the South Fork of the Amer
lean on the south, and the Middle Fork OF
the same stream on the north. There is
no prairie land on this divide, the western
portion commencing with red soil foothill
lands, and rising more abruptly than on
the southern side. As fruit section this
has no superior.
In the vicinity of Georgetown, the
largest town GU the divide, the following
fruits thrive and bear aboundantlv, and,
in addition, surpass in flavor and keeping
qualities those grown in lower latitudes
Bartlett pears, figs, French, German and
Hungarian prunes, apples, peaches, cher
ries, plums, grapes of all the foreign va
rieties, and in the greatest perfection all
the small fruits or berries. Competent
judges state that the finest winter apples
in the world are those grown on the
ranch of 4. j. Wilton, at Upton Hill,
at an elevation Of over 5000 feet. The
trees are thrifty, grow without irrigation
ard are loaded down annually The miner
al resources, wealth oftimber, large quarries
of superior lime, slate, etc, together with
cheap lands, susceptible of the highest de-
gree of cultivation, recommends this divide
to the immigrant.
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES AT GEORGE
TOWN,
Below is given the average temperature
for each month Of the year 1886; also Civ,
ing the extremes Of temperature through.
out the year, taken at the hours of 8 A. NJ
and P. NJ. at Georgetown:
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-18
kl9lDINca OF SAMUEL HALE CHINA STREET PLAcERvILlE

around them well kept, in which the
choicest flowers bloom thrcugh9ut the
year. The cuts in this issue Of
THE MAGNIFICENT Ho3Es
OF Samuel Hale, NJ. Varozza and A. T.
Culbertson are fair samples of the homes
Of her enterprising business men
in Placeryille there are large number
OF fratenal organizations, and nany well
built and equipped hals for their accom-
modation. Among them are Mascns, Odd
Fellows, Red Men, Knights of Pvthias,
Druids, Chosen Friends, United Workmeil,
Good Temp'ars, Patrons OF Husbandry,
Grand Army Of the Republic ard Native
Sons Of the Golden West.
1t would be hard to find anywhere a
community OF equal numbers containing so.
large proportion OF educated gentlemen,
and cultivated, refined, accomplished
ladies. But more conSricuous than ali;
more proyerbial than all above all more
precious than all, IS the renown which the
people Of III Dorado have earned and won,
because Of the free, generous, whole-soued
hospitality which they extend 70 strangers.
and the al!-embracing kindness and tender
ne Oh their neighhocly qualities. Among
them is not, there never mas been, there
never can 6e, any such thing as want or
suffering. There are in this county, &C.
cording to the latest tabulatiofs, about
$4,000 acres Of unsold and
UNCLAIMED GOVERNMENT LAND.
Much of this, doubtless, is as fayorably
located and Of as good quality as any that
is claimed and cultivated. Much Of it is
ready for cultivation at but slight cost for
preparation. From that which Is heavily
timbered comfortable income cen be made
in clearing it. But the best economy. for
those who have the means at commend.
and who desire to locate in Fl Dorado
county, is to purchase improved farms.
orchards or vineyards. For an expendit-
ure Of $1,000 to s, 1000 places can be bought
which will make a comfortable, delightful
nome, and from which the purchaser can
at once realize a good iucome-more than
a support-with certainty Of permanent
increase as reward of intelligent indus
try.
FL Dorado county embraces the Eighth
Agricultural District OF this State At
Piaeeryille the annual fair is held. This
enterprising city has constructed an elegant
race-track on one of the most slightly loca-
tions in the State. and has erected fine
pavilion for the exhibition of her products.
Much of the success Of her annual fairs
are due TO the interchangeable exertions Of
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-18

bages - pounds, carrots 10 pounds. water
melons % pounds, Irish potatoes II pounds,
. onions ! pounds? Some cabbaces and
heets have Spontaneously become pcren-
mails ~ tins favored section continuing 10
grow from year TO year, remaining green
and growing throughout winter and SIM
mer.
The abundance, excellence and variety
Of FL Dorado
FRUIT AsToNIsnEs THE STRANGER.
. Though he may have come from the mar
kets OF London or New York. which draw
tribute from whole hemispheres. No mar
i<et on the globe suri.asses this for variety.
of the fruit Of every cline can he grown
/ upon our soil and matured in our climate
The mild winters permit the trees to grow
during nine or ten months in the wear.
they grow rapidly, mature early. are
healthy and iong-lived and hear in abllnd-
antiy. Pear and apple trees planted in Ell
Dorado county thirty-seyen wears ago are
still in perfect health, aud some of them
produce rs much as ton Of fruit annually.
The apple; pear, peach, plum, apricot.
prune and the grape seem TO have found
here their most congenial cline. The
olive and the fig grow luxuriantly, the lat
ter to gigantic size beside the apple and
the pear The vine produces more abund-
antly than in any portion of Europe. and
! the crop has never failed or been DESTROYED
I here, as often happens there. 4 Yield of
/ LOCO gallons of wine 10 the acre is as fire.
( quent proportionately in III Dorado as of
400 gallons in France or Germany. Her
gardens are most beautiful,
REsPLENDENT WITH o0NIFERs
And deciduous trees, with 1he flowers of
the temperate zone and the luxuriaut
plants OF the tropics. The shrubs which
IN New York remain dwaried. thriving
only under shelter as delicate exotics, are
I nataralized in FL Dorado, grow treelike in
size in the open air, and bloom during
most of the months of the year. The rose
bush blooms from January to December
I Domestic herbivorous animals live and in
crease here without shelter. and 10 = great
extent without cultivated food. They
reach their full growth year earlier than
IL the Eastern States Sheep produce
more wool, iaerease more rapidly, and are
kept at q far less cost Bees increase more
rapidly, and make more and better honey
. than there is any record of their doing
elsewhere.
The natural sceneryof FL Dorado county
! Is varied and grand,
HER aoCNTAi2Ss MAJESTIC IN HIGHT.
Capped With TIE eternal snows Of many
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-18

and harley even thrive better than wheat.
and produce larger crops.
CLOVER GROWS II WILD LUxraIAYcE.
Yielding enormous ana perpetual crops.
The apple, pear, Pium and uectaIina, in
fact all the produ IS Of the temperate zoae,
seem to be 1t home in this soil and climate,
while the grapes are superior in Gaaiitr.
quantity and favor, making the wine a.d
raisins equal to any known in any marl.e
Of the world
Rising still higher we reach The m9uu-
tain or summit region where we find per
petual snow. Here is III Dorado's richest
treasure, her greatest blessing. to which all
her other advantages are to u greater or
les extent indebted for their existence.
IN these immense deep and ancient
snowbeds are the banked up deposits,
whence constantly tricIle the currents
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-18


which are the life-bIood of her mining,
agricultural, horticultural and manufactur-
ing interests. During the summer season
the trickling waters from those immense
snow deposits fill tire summit valley with Il
rich, rank verfiure, affording vast extent
of the finest pas.urage in the world, which,
supplemented by the varied and cool at
mosphere, 50 favorable to the saving of
cream and the manufacture of butter and
cheese. makes this, the highest portion of
the coaRty,
A YERITABLE DAIBEMAN's PARADISE
The farmer of the prairie land having
wintered his stock on the wildcats and
others grasses of the lover country, in the
early summer makes a comparatively short
drive TO the rich meadows Of the summit
valleys. The timber belt which covers
large area of the county, is best when an
altitude of 1000 feet is reached. It is one
Of the grandest on the American continent.
much of it subject TO pre-emption. 1t EN-
braces thousands Of acres of majestic sugar.
pine trees, measuring from ten to fifteen
feet in diameter, and shooting upwards
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-18

straight, clear and beautiful, frequently to
height of one hundred and twenty feet
before limb is reached.
HER MINING INDUSTRIES.
Mining has always been one of the lead
ing industries of this county. For few
years after the discovery of gold, which
was made by James w. Marshall at Co
Iona, in this county, it was the only in
dustry of the people The beds and banks
OF the watereourses, the gravel on the
hillside, even the soil around the grass
roots was sprinkled with gold These de-
posits, which were soon worked out, were
but the result OF the erosive effects of air
and water upon the outer and exposed
surface of gold-laden gravel beds and
quartz lodes, which, even to this time,
have been but partially developed. The
loose, scattered particles have been gath
cred, and that Is about all. The
long-ton, the sluiee box and the
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-18

| and r. Anderson. Jr, carry large and care
fUlly-selec.cd stocks. John c. 0'Donnell,
Shelly Inch ard II. H. Pratt carry full
stocks Of school looks, stationery, candies.
nuts, tobaeco, cigars, etc. The last named
is agent for the RECoRD-UNIoN. The pro-
fessions also are well represented, there
being rot less than ten lawyers practising
before the Superior Court-G. J. Carpenter
and Prentiss Carpenter, Geo. H. Ingham
c. T. Irwin and Fred Irwin, George c..
Blanchard, G. +. Swiser. NJ. P. Bennett.
George L. Lukens and Frank W. Smith.
OF doctors, there are fiye-R. w. Baum,
II. W. Smith, II. w. A. Northen, J. g.
Wrenn and i. ". Me-lone.
If the reader viii just fix his mind on
some town OF which he has knowledge,
containing the business and professional
men enumerated above, and add there to
two large
BOX FACTORIES And PLANNING Mills,
\ foundry and machine shop capable OF
doing the heaviest work, grist-mill and
a score or more saloons, quartz mill en-
ploying 100 hands, he will be able 90 form
some idea of what Pacervilie is like The
country around the town Is cutie thickly
populated, and to-day, owing to the f;ict
that the railroad will soon reach ii, !. IS
doubtful if there is a more inviting g Ill
for capital and enterprise Gu the Pa lie
coast. Certain it is that the first man or
company who establishes fruit-drying aud
canning establishment, or wooden mill
taking advantage OF its mequaled water
power, Will have a bonanza of wealth.
PLACERVIL!E HOTELS
One thing which speaks well for Placer
vile is her elegant ard tinely-kept hotels.
The Cary House, an elegant cut Of which
appears In this issue. is three-story, fire.
proof brick building, with large, airy,
comfortable, ,welI-furnished rooms. No town
in the State Of twice its size has hotel
so elegant and imposing in appearance.
Here James Borland, or Uncle Jimmy, rs
his friends lo7e 20 call him, holds forth.
He is a prince of landlords, has devoted a
lifetime to it, and IS one of the hest err
tertainers TO lie found anywhere. His ta-
bic is always loaded with the best that the
market affords. The daily stages stop at
the door.
George w Mckee is the proprietor of
the Ohio House, splendid two-stoly
building, on the corner Of Main and
Sacramento streets This house, formerly
the Orleans, has been entirely refitted, re-
furnished, made over new, ard cannot be
excelled in any department Mr. Mckee
Is joyial, Jolly, good-nata-ed landlord,
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-18

tiguous foothills is peculiarly adapted to
the growth of all citrus fruits-the olive,
the fig, the pomegranate. Thence by
gradual ascent is reached,,a stretch Of un-
dulating country, rolling hills and narrow
valleys, covered in their native state with
white oak timber or with groves OF man
zanita, chaparral and buckeye. In this
section is found the gravelly red soil where
the fruit of the vine reaches unrivaled
perfection, where wine acquires flavor
which no amount of cultivation or treat
ment will give to that made from grapes
grown at lower attitudes and on valley or
alluvial soils Here also the peach, plum
and apricot ripen to perfection, Thence
still by gradual ascent is reached the up
per foothill region, with an altitude of
from fifteen hundred to twenty-five hun
dred feet, region that fully embraces
two-thirds of the area of the entire
county. Here is the
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-18

In addition to the large tracts of land
on this divide subject to location as home
steads and pre-emption claims, and offered
for sale by the railroad company, the
home-seeker will find many partially i'm
proved properties that can be purchased
for a less amount of money than the i'm
proyements thereon actually y cost. As ex-
planning this fact, it is only necessary to
state what is already generally ly known, that
many of the most desirable quarter sec
tions in the county were originally located
by miners, to whom farming is disagree
able-in fact, too slow.
What is the highest altitude at which
our fruits can be grown, is a question often
asked by horticulturists.
Benjamin NJ. Cope resides in Cos11nnn..s
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-18

county have many advantages over men Of
the same occupation in the Eastern and
Middle States. The winter is never so
cold as to interrupt their work, and there
are no storms Of rain or hail 10 destroy
their grain and hay. They need no
barns. Barley thrives better than in any
other part Of the world. The soil and
climate are also PARTICULARS favorable to
the growth Of wheat, which unites the
valuahle qualities Of whiteness, dryness
and glutinousness to u greater degree than
any wheat in TIE world. The average
crop is also larger than in any other place
where fertilizers are not used extensively.
Kitchen vegetables grow to an uuparal-
leled size. Where but in El Dorado
county have pumpkins been seen to reach
30 pounds in weight. beets 100 pounds,
white turnips 26 pounds, solid-headed caL-
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-18
A Soil Sprin'kic<z with Gold and
Aboundir z in Fertility-Sonae
of IT'S Productions.
EXTENT GsD, GRAND AND VARIED
RESOURCES.
Her Water Supply Observation-Disclosures
Mines the Richest-Her Soil the
Most Productive-Her Cities,
Towns, Etc, Enjoying
Prosperity.

California is known throughout the
world, and so is FL Dorado county, the
place where }. W. Marshall discovered
gold in 1913. The name El Dorado
means land of gold," and it is not a mis-
nomer. This county is bounded on the
west by that of Sacramento, on the north
10y Placer, on the south by Amador and on
the east by the State OF Nevada There Is
not on the habitable globe, a section
of country more wonderfully endowed with
agricultural advantages, more brilliant
in its climate or with soil more product
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-18

AA.A4Da.tA - N - " T. Ii Lb " y q
independent, intelligent, industrious. ca
pable Of carving oGt their own fortunes
without foreign aid. At the sane time,
however, the people are fully sensible OF
the great advantages 10 be derived from
an Introduction of additional capital and
labor. asc not too proud TO accept such aid,
nor 20 selfish Us 10 wish to keep all their
riches for themselves.
Agriculture cut no figure in the minds
Of the pioneers after the discovery OF gold
in 1S4S, in their estimates of the probabil-
tiles Of the future California. Those who
had been longest here did not know the
capabilities OF the soil they occupied. The
general impression prevailed that crops
could not be raised without irrigation.
The old Father, brought that idea with
them from Los Angeles and Lower Cali
fornia. and had never gotten rid of it. Il
remained for the Americans, when the
first eager thirst for gold was satisfied. TO
prove that El Dorado was not only 'the
land OF gold, bat was to strpaSs the world
in the field of agriculture, horticulture
and Horticulture, as she had surpassed II in
the yellow harvest of her gold fields.
Perchance some miner. when his work was
done,
Leaned OF his pick, just as the setting sun.
With ever-chauging hue and ruddy glow.
Iuurnined some peaceful vale that swept low.
And IS he gazed, n vision fair arose
of what the unknown future might disclose:
He saw neat hOmesteads rise upon the plain
Around them waving yellow fields o. grain:
He seemed to kear the voice Of lowing kline
He saw bey0ad the vision sill unfold,
And El Dorado was q land OF corn, Of wine, and
gold.
HER GOLD FIELDS.
Placer mining long since ceased to be
the leading industry of III Dorado county,
but her gold fields are inexhaustible. He.
immense gravel deposits, rich with the
shining ore, will yield immense returns for
ages to come. With labor ut a rate APP
preaching moderation. and with the prac-
tical scientific and mechanical aids now
thrown open to the employment of capital.
the mountains of III Dorado viii soon be
Obliged to yield up TO enterprising man
the immense stores of wealth that lie hid
den in the quartz veins in their BOSOM IN
a word. FL Dorado county seems TO contain
the eerIns of Il future state of such wealth
and prosperity that the most glowing de-
seriptions of ancient splendor of Oriental
magnifeence, or Of the immense richss oi
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-18

i've. FL Dorado county bids fair to cut
strip the famed Land of Promise in lhe
abundance and excellent quality of her
agricultural products and her mineral
wealth, while her commercial advantages,
augmented by the proposed railroad axteu-
sions, now an assured fact, seconded By the
ENERGY AND ENrERPEIsING SPIRIT
OF its inhabitants, are such as warrant Il
firm belief in a long and uninterrupted
career of prosperity. El Dorado's present
condition offers to both the immigrant and
the capitalist equal, if not better, prospects
of success than any other section on the
coast
1t has Il population ominentIy energetic,
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-18

winters; her valleys rich with bottom
lands, threaded with rivers of crystalline
waters flowing over golden sands; her roll
ing foothills covered with wide-spreadine
oaks, towering shrubs, native grasses, be-
decked with hundreds Of species of beauti-
full and fragrant flowers; her forests of
pine, cedar, fir and hemlock, that stud the
higher foothills and the Sierras up to the
snow belt; her lakes which, for purity of
water and scenic grandeur, have no equal
on the face of the earth her cascades,
waterfalls, caverns deep gorges, form a
panorama of loveliness nowhere else to be
found in similar extent of territory.
As light comes in the spring or summer
the trees are vocal with innets. while
larks sing in the fields and chanticleer
sounds his horn. As day goes it is pleas
ant to hear the birds calling to repose, the
wild doves cooling, the quails fondly sig
mailing their mates, the owl adding his SOL
emn note to the vespers of the feathered
tribe. One thinks of the day when a ma
tive generation will
LOVE THESE HILLS OF Ell DORADO,
With their wealth of varied scenery and
resources, as ardently as the pioneers
loved the home-spots which they left in
the East or beyond the Atlantic. Poetry
and song and romance will come at last
to link the spells of imagination and fancy
to those of memory and affection, and
"home" will exist here as in the fond old
meaning of the most characteristic English
word. All the lakes of the Sierras in FL
Dorado county are sources of the numerous
tributaries of the American and Cosumnes
rivers. They lie from 5000 to 1000 feet
above the level of the sea, where the snow
falls commonly ten feet deep, and stays
from November or December until July,
with lingering patches sometimes on the
peaks above until the next winter. Some
of these lakes are appropriated for ice sup
plies to the lower country. Rude hotels
have been erected near few magnificent
ones, to accommodate the visitors who
GO THERE To FISH, SAIL, SKETCH
And recuperate Over S2,000,000 have
been expended in this county in bringing
in canals from these natural mountain re-
servoirs for mining purposes. When they
cease to be wanted for mining purposes,
they will serve, and do now serve, to irri-
gate countless gardens, orchards and vine
yards throughout the valleys and foothills.
The Ell Dorado Deep Gravel and Mining
Company, one of the largest of these works
in the county, has length of over 40
miles and storage lakes with capacity of
over 550,00O,OO0 cubic foet of water, which
can be increased to any amount desired.
The names of those lakes make long list
and suggest their picturesque qualities, as
Silver, CRYSTAL, Cascade, Emerald, Grass,
Fallen Leaf, Tule, Willow, Loon, Mirror,
Alder, Paradise, etc. Many are named
from
THE PEAKS THAT OVERLOOK THEM,
From the wild animals OF birds that fire.
quent them, from the circumstances of
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-18

u
this time is estimated at over $1,000; that
OF the city of Placeryille $500.
AssEssABLE PROPERTY.
The tax levy for 1887 was 81 % on the
Sl00.
Following is statement of assessable
property in El Dorado county for the year
1886, as shown by the books of the County
Assessor: Total value of real estate 81
307 ,034; total value of personal property,
S92S, ,520; value of mining bitches, Sl42,-
325; value OF irrigating bitches, $4,G20
number of acres of land patented and
assessed, 30S, ,IG9 Number of gallons
brandies and other liquors, 1900; gallons
Of wine, 23,GS0. Number of trees and
vines-lemon, 20; ounce, 39l; apricot,
SlS; oranges, "a (this does not include the
large number set out by d. Johnston and
others the present season. figs, 927; nee
tarines, 4,444; apples, 90,042 prune, {, 6,2S4;
pear, 60,SS9, plum, 27,446; peach, ILL.,
277; cherry, ,, 2l0; grapeyines, about $50
acres Number of thoroughbred horses, 6,
valued at 500 per head; graded horses,
539, valued at S73 81 per head; Spanish
horses, 1,943, valued at $50 46 per head ;
Jacks and iennies, 10, valued at Sll 66 per
head; mules, 46, valued at $50 0S per
head poultry, 1909; sheep, 11,47l; cords
of wood cut, 6,190; lumber, 162 NJ. Num-
ber of cows, 300; calves, 3,451; stock
cattle, S,2l2; colts, eos; common goats,
$500; graded goats, 4,lS0; hogs, 2,1S2.
THE COUNTY SEAT.
Piacerville, the county seat of FL Dorado
county, is one of the prettiest town
anywhere to be found upon the coast. Her
location is picturesque in the extreme 1t
occupies a long narrow valley between m-
dulating hills, which rise from 500 TO 500
feet above her streets. The main street
extends distance of over one mile and a
half along the southern bank of Hang
town creek. This street is weIl-built up.
there being numerous large and handsome
brick blocks and many substantial public
buildings. This street is devoted almost
exclusively to business. The residences
are ON Coloma and Sacramento streets,
Bedford and Cedar Ravine avenues. 1t is
one of the wealthiest towns of its size in
California; has Nhe stir, life, vim and
activity of a city Of 10000 inhabitants.
She has four elegant churches, equal in
every respect to those of Sacramento, built
in the flush times when gold was plentiful,
and occupied by Catholic, Presbyterian,
Methodist and Episcopal congregations
The officers of the county are as follows
George F. Williams, Superior Judge